The cards are already on the table. Julián, as MARCA exclusively revealed yesterday, Monday, has already stated that he does not want to renew, that he does not accept the offer to improve his salary because his roadmap involves wearing another shirt next season. And the Spider is clear about which jersey he would like to wear: Barcelona’s.
This is where the maze regarding the future of the world champion begins. With a 500 million release clause, unaffordable even for the most powerful economies, the only way out is to sit down and negotiate with Joan Laporta and Deco, president and sporting director of the Camp Nou side.
“And to do it, here is the crux of the matter, with a team far removed from the financial power of the other two suitors: PSG and Arsenal. Although the cards are marked from the offices at the Metropolitano and there is no intention of listening to an offer that starts at no less than 150 million euros.
An amount, of course, that could be reduced with the inclusion of some players who might interest the Rojiblancos. Within Atlético’s hierarchy, there are those in favor of this scenario and those who prefer to bring in a large sum and strengthen the squad with players who do not play at Camp Nou.
There, several names could come up in the deal although many conditions would have to be met for them to end up playing: that Atlético be interested and improve their squad… and that the Barça player be willing to cross the air bridge to continue his career at the Metropolitano.
Two different speeds
While Atlético do not want a soap opera (in the event of a sale they would have to go after a top-level No. 9 to replace him) at Barça they are working on a different timetable. They are counting on the willingness of the player they are interested in to end up in the Catalan capital and understand that this is their main asset for ultimately prolonging a negotiation that reaches a successful conclusion.
All of this, of course, with two other giants behind them who start at a hard-to-overcome disadvantage: Julián does not have either returning to the Premier League or moving to PSG among his priorities, no matter how much Luis Enrique wants him. Another matter is that Barça may not be able to meet Atlético’s demands and then he may be forced to take other paths.
And among these paths, no one should rule out the continuation of a player with four more years left on his contract. It seems the most difficult road once he has already communicated his decision, but it could be the only real way out of the labyrinth Julián is caught in.
